Clutch mechanism



Aug. 23, 1938. A. Y. DODGE CLUTCH MECHANISM original Filed March 14,1932,

INVENTO'R 140/54 X00045. BY "2 ATTORNEY the same.

Patented Aug. 23, 193.8

T PATENT OFFICE CLUTCH LIECHANISM v Adi'cl Y. Dodge, south Bend, 11111.,assignmto Bendix Aviation CorporatiomSouth Bend, Incl, a'corporationDelaware Original application March 14, 1932, Serial No.

Patent No. 2,087,968, dated, July 27, Divided and this application May10.

1931, Serial No. 141,104 2 Claims. (01. 192-11) This invention relatesto clutches.

An object of the invention is to provide a clutch mechanism in which aservo clutch shoe rotates with the flywheel. secured to the drivingshaft of'a prime mover. f

' Another object of the invention is to providev a clutch mechanism inwhich a clutch shoe rotates with the flywheel of a prime mover, and inwhich centrifugal force assists in applying the clutch shoe. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a clutch mechanismincluding means for assistme in the actuation of the clutch shoes fordisengagement when the work overruns th flywheel. 1

A still further object of the invention is to provide a clutch mechanismincluding means as sisting the aforementioned centrifugal mechanism inthe actuation. of the clutch to engage Other objects of the inventionand desirable details of construction and combinations of parts willbecome apparent from the following die-- scription of a preferredembodiment, which description is taken in conjunction with the acoompanying drawing, in which;

Figure l is a vertical sectional view lllwtrating' a preferred form ofthe invention; and

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in section. and partly broken away,oi the form of the invention illustrated in Figure l.

Referring to the drawing for more specific dc,- tails of the invention,it] represents the driving shaft of a prime movenhot shown. This shafthas bolted or otherwise secured thereto a flywheel lt, rotatable in acounterclockwise direc-- tion, as indicated by the arrow disclosed inFigare l. The latter memher has suitahly secured to the dance thereof adust shield or hackin plate which may he oi any preferred type.

Journaleol in one end of the driving shaft in suitable hearings it is adriven shalt it. This flywheel concentrically thereto and in spaced lrelation, so that rotationhetween the drum and the flywheel may beeffected without these parts engaging one another.

The backing plate it has positioned thereon corresponding andinterchangeable clutch shoes 28 and till. Each oi the shoes includes aweb 1 32, supporting a rim it, to which is suitably serocker arms 52.

cured lining 36 adaptable for cooperation with the clutching surface ofthe drum. As shown, the shoes 28 and 30 are anchored on the backingplate as indicated at 38 and 40.

The toes of the shoes are provided with suitable openings 42 adaptablefor the reception of fixed pins 44, arranged on the backing 'plate. Theopenings 42 are so arranged with respect to the pins 44 that uponengagement of the shoes with the clutching surface 01! the drum saidshoes are permitted to wedge into drum engagement.-

Each shoe has suitably secured to the toe thereof a weight 48, andconnecting the toe of each shoe to the anchor for the other shoe is areturn spring 48.

In this structure, the shoes rotate with the hywheel and are moved intodrum engagement, in part by the centrifugal force due to rotation and inpart-by manually operable means new to be described.

As disclosed, the driving shaft Id of the prime mover has journaled inone end thereof a suitable bearing for the driven shaft it. The drivenshaft has splinecl thereto at it the aforementioned flange it, to whichis bolted or otherwise secured the drum 2t. The drum 26 is nested in theflywheel it, withsuitahle clearance between the drum and the flywheel.

Plvoted on lugs ti secured to the plate it are Each oi these arms hasone end connected by a suitable adjustable llnlr M to correspondingshoes 23 and it, anchored on the baclrhig plate as indicated at it andit. The

other ends oi the arms at are connected, through suitable linkage lit,to a sleeve it positioned for rotation on the driven shalt it, andsuitably operating the lever ht, the sleeve tit may be I moved coauiallywith respect to the driven shaft, to rock the lovers ht andniove theshoes into drum engagement.

Describing now the operation oi the mechanism constituting theinvention, the shoes rotate with the ilywheel and are moved into drumengagement, in part hy the centrifugal force devehoped by the weights itand in part by the manual operation of the lever tt. The clutch applyingeffect is, of course, dependent upon the size of the weights t6 and thetension of the springs 48. Under the action of the rotating flywheel theshoes move outwardlv iulcrumlng about the anchors 38 and it as pivots,this movement being counteracted by the action of the return springs II,which act to move the clutch shoes out of engagement with the drum 2. Itis, of course. to be understood that the springs serve to disengage theclutch at or below a certain speed 01' the flywheel, the manuallyoperated lever 68, of course, being released. It is further to be notedthat the shoes 28 and 30 are of a self-energizing type, since the toesof the shoes are wedged into drum engagement.

The invention heretofore described is disclosed in my copendingapplication Serial No. 598,855, filed March 14, 1932, which has becomePatent No. 2,087,968, issued July 27, 1937, this applicationconstituting a division thereof.

While one illustrative embodiment has been described, it is not myintention to limit the scope of the invention to that particularembodiment, or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A clutch comprising a driving member, a hollow flywheel securedthereto, a dust plate secured to the flange oi the flywheel, a drivenmember, a drum on the driven member arranged coaxially within theflywheel, anchors on the dust plate, friction members pivoted on theanchors, and movable by centrifugal force into drum engagement, meansassisting the centrifugal force, and yieldable means for counteractingthe centrifugal force imparted to the friction members.

2. A clutch comprising a driving shaft, 8. flywheel secured thereto, adust shield secured to the flange of the flywheel, a driven shaft, adrum on the driven shaft positioned within the flywheel, anchors on thedust shield, friction elements pivoted on the anchors and movableangularly into drum engagement, levers pivoted on the dust shield, meansconnecting the levers to the friction elements, a sleeve on the drivenshaft, links connecting the sleeve to the levers, a

collar on the sleeve, and means for mechanically moving the sleeve toactuate the levers to engage the friction elements with the drum.

ADIEL Y. DODGE.

